WEST CHESTER, PA – Ja'Den McKenzie (Morton, PA/Springfield) plowed in from one yard out with the go-ahead touchdown with 57 seconds left in the game, and then
Obi Anyatonwu (York, PA/Central York) intercepted Edinboro's hail mary in the end zone as time expired to clinch a thrilling 41-37 victory for West Chester over visiting Edinboro at John A. Farrell Stadium Saturday afternoon.
West Chester (2-1), playing its first game at home in 672 days, handed head coach
Bill Zwaan his 200th career victory in the process. Edinboro fell to 0-2 on the season with the non-league loss.
The purple & gold faithful were treated to some of the most exciting football the stadium has seen in quite some time. Defensive End
Zach Liggitt (Danielsville, PA/Northampton) returned an interception 59 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter off a pass that hit somebody's helmet and popped straight up in the air.
Then, reigning PSAC East Defensive Player of the Week,
Michael Gobora (Newtown, PA/Pennsbury) intercepted a 2-point conversion pass and raced 95 yards for two defensive points in the fourth quarter. The Fighting Scots, trailing 32-30 after Dontae Sanders ran for a score from five yards out, were trying to tie the game with 9:22 left in the game. However, Gobora rumbled the length of the field with his interception of Edinboro's "Philly Special" gone awry to make it a 34-30 lead for the Golden Rams instead.
But, the contest wasn't all smile for West Chester's special teams. The Golden Rams had two extra points and one field goal attempt blocked in the game. Edinboro's Josh Boyd returned a kickoff 44 yards in the game while Jon Long returned a punt 43 yards that set up the Scots with good field position each time.
West Chester quarterback
Shane Dooley (Philadelphia, PA/Father Judge) finished the day 9 of 19 for 151 yards and two touchdowns – one of those a 57-yard pitch and catch to a wide open
Seth Degree (Philadelphia, PA/West Catholic). Degree finished with three catches for a team-best 64 yards.
Running back
Phil Poquie (Philadelphia, PA/Haverford School) rushed 14 times for 110 yards and one score. McKenzie added 78 yards on the ground and two TDs while Dooley put up 71 rushing yards as well.
West Chester's defense allowed five rushing touchdowns. However, the Scots only mustered 106 rushing yards in the game. Golden Rams' linebacker,
Jackson Taylor (Glenside, PA/Abington) finished with 13 tackles on the day, including 2.5 for a loss and 1.5 sacks. West Chester sacked Edinboro's quarterback four times in the contest.
Jordan Burney (Philadelphia, PA/Bishop Egan) finished with seven stops and forced a fumble.
Following a 2-yard touchdown run with 3:32 to play in the first half, West Chester looked to be in control building a 32-14 lead. However, Edinboro mounted a comeback in the third quarter, scoring a pair of TDs and kicking a field goal that brought them to within 32-30. That's when Gobora's defensive conversion halted the Fighting Scots' rally momentarily. Anfreenee Williams ran 30 yards for a touchdown with 3:08 left in the game that put Edinboro on top 37-34.
Dooley operated the team's two-minute drill to perfection, engineering his first fourth quarter, game-winning scoring drive. Relying mostly on the ground game, West Chester marched the length of the field with McKenzie finishing off the drive from 1-yard out. The Golden Rams ran the ball eight times for 62 yards on the 9-play drive.
West Chester hits the road next weekend for its PSAC East opener at Millersville. Game time is set for 4 p.m.
